What does Freesia smell like?
Freesia smells fresh and crisp: a light floral tone, a little lemony, with a peppery edge and a fruity softness reminiscent of pear or wild strawberry. It has neither the weight of white flowers nor the depth of rose. A soapy, almost clean-laundry facet makes it very legible. It speaks mainly in the top and heart, then melts into the musks.
Origin and production
The genus Freesia, part of the iris family, grows wild in South Africa and is named after the German physician Friedrich Freese. The flower is grown on a large scale for bouquets, notably in the Netherlands, but its scent cannot be extracted commercially. Perfumers rebuild it from linalool, ionones, green and fruity notes. The accord took off in the late 1980s with the wave of fresh, sheer florals.
How perfumers use it
Freesia sits in the top or heart to lighten a composition. It pairs with lily of the valley, rose, peony, jasmine and aquatic notes, or with pear for a fruity effect. Jo Malone's English Pear & Freesia builds a fruity duet around it, Issey Miyake's L'Eau d'Issey uses it in its watery freshness, and Calvin Klein's Eternity folds it into a clean bouquet.
How to wear it
Perfect in spring and summer, during the day. It suits lovers of light, clean, easy florals.
